Spring Training has begun, as pitchers and catchers are reporting to their respective camps. At least, the ones who are under contract. There are still some free agents out there of note that will be looking to finally strike a deal soon. The Milwaukee Brewers made some eyebrow-raising moves a few weeks ago with the trading for Christian Yelich and the signing of Lorenzo Cain. After coming surprisingly just short of the postseason last year, they seem to be serious about competing in 2018.

That said, they still could use more starting pitching.

With Yu Darvish going to the Cubs, it leaves the Brewers with several options to go after. The most notable names are Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn, Alex Cobb, and Jaime Garcia. While Arrieta may seem less likely with the money that his company is demanding, it cannot be 100 percent ruled out. Right now the most likely candidates for the Brewers seem to be Alex Cobb and/or Lance Lynn.

Alex Cobb

Now that the Cubs got Darvish, Cobb is no longer a favorite to go to Chicago. A report back on New Year's eve surfaced from MLB.com's David Adler that the Brewers were in contact with Alex Cobb's reps. Not much was really said what the discussions were, but it shows the Brewers at some point had interest in the 30-year old righty.

Chicago Sun-Times reporter Gordon Wittenmyer also reported back in mid-December that Cobb was seeking around $20 million a year.

If the Brewers could land him, it would be a solid addition to the rotation. Last year in Tampa Bay, he pitched to a 3.66 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and struck out 128 batters in 179.1 innings. He is a career 3.50 ERA, 3.68 FIP, and 1.22 WHIP pitcher.

He did miss all of 2015 due to Tommy John surgery, but last year had a solid comeback. If Arrieta cannot be had, then Cobb may be the No. 1 target. They will have to deal with other teams that have expressed interest in Cobb, including the Twins, Yankees, and Mets.

Lance Lynn

Lynn's offseason has been a bit different. There has been very little in terms of rumors and reported interest involving him.

One of the most likely reasons is the fact that he had recent Tommy John surgery and there are some things that concern teams with him. Prior to missing all of 2016 to TJ, Lynn was a very underrated starter. From 2011-2015 he pitched to a 3.37 ERA, 3.36 FIP, and 1.30 WHIP in 150 games. He was an All-Star in 2012. He returned from injury last year and put up a solid 3.43 ERA, but his Fielding Independent Pitching was 4.82. In other words, his adjusted ERA to defense and ballpark factors was a lot higher than what his earned run average showed. That is a source of concern for many.

However, he is 30 and probably still has plenty in the tank. Coming back from Tommy John is never easy and he was still able to toss 186.1 innings.

He could come back in 2018 and do even better. The cost of him is really not as clear, he could be looking for four-some years or lower. If the Brewers could get a bargain on him, they may take a stab at him. He could be a very solid mid-rotation guy with plenty of experience.

Overall, these two are not the only options for the Brewers regarding starting pitching. They may go after a pitcher via trade, considering they have plenty of young assets still. They may sign one and trade for one. If they could get a Lynn or a Cobb and trade for an Archer down the road, it can really bolster their rotation.
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